Apparatus for handling steel forms in tunnels



March 19, 1968 w. RECORDS 7 3,373,571

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING STEEL FORMS IN 'I'UNNELS Filed Jan. 6, 1966 2 Sheets$heet 1 INVENTOR W. M. RECORDS ATTORNEYS W. M. RECORDS March 19, 1968 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING STEEL FORMS IN TUNNELS Filed Jan. 6, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 mm m. R mm 0 mm M M w 0 w 4 4 United States Patent 3,373,571 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING STEEL FORMS IN TUNNELS William M. Records, San Antonio, Tex., assignor to Ewing-Records & Associates, Inc., Converse, Tex.,

a corporation of Texas Filed Jan. 6, 1966, Ser. No. 519,030 1 Claim. (Cl. 61-84) ABSTRACT 8F THE DISCLOSURE Concrete forms, particularly collapsible steel forms movable longitudinally upon rollers in tunnel construction.

Summary of the invention A system for moving and setting steel forms in a tunnel, utilizing minimum peripheral space and enabling longitudinal movement of the collapsed forms upon rollers. The system includes a vertically extending hanger suspended from the top of the tunnel and supporting a plurality of rollers upon which the collapsible forms are suspended and a stripping ratchet interconnecting the form elements so as to radially expand the elements for pouring of concrete and to radially inwardly collapse the forms for stripping. As the torms are collapsed they engage the roller assemblies and upon which they are moved longitudinally within the tunnel for resetting.

The present invention relates generally to the handling of steel forms in tunnels and particularly to an apparatus capable of moving and setting steel forms while utilizing minimum tunnel space.

Numerous inventors, such as Wolfe (Patent No. 1,292,- 203), ORourke (Patent No. 1,382,668), Jessen (Patent No. 2,547,946), Bossner (Patent No. 2,870,518), Card (Patent No. 3,022,562), Clark (Patent No. 3,075,359) and Cunningham (Patent No. 3,169,376), have addressed themselves to the problem of moving and setting steel forms in tunnels and aqueducts. conventionally, a carriage or traveler equipped with wheels which run on rails laid on invert or on finished concrete is used, which collapses the forms and moves them to their new position. The primary disadvantage of such wheeled carriage arrangements is the amount of room or space taken up In tunnel which, of course, is always at a premium. With the present invention, considerable room for the passage of men and material through the concrete forms remains.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to permit the moving and setting of steel forms in tunnels with a construction characterized by its simplicity in construction.

Another object of the present invention is to permit the moving and setting of steel forms with a construction designed to minimize space requirements.

Still a further object of the present invention is to support steel forms during movement and setting from a simple roller assembly located at top of the tunnel thus permitting passage of men and material through the forms.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide forms with simple hinge construction allowing maximum space for passage of men and material while permitting concrete to be pumped into the tunnel forms at centerline.

Other objects will become apparent from the ensuing specification and attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a section view illustrating the form in traveling position;

3,373,571 Patented Mar. 19, 1968 FIG. 2 is a section view illustrating the form in pouring position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section view illustrating details of the roller assembly and the form in collapsed position; and

FIG. 4 is section view illustrating details of the roller assembly and the form in concreting position.

As seen in FIG. 1, the present system consists of a plurality of hangers 10 which are fastened to supporting ring beams 12 within tunnel 14. Attached to the threaded lower portions 16 of hangers 10 with bolts 18 are roller assemblies 20. During movement, forms 22 are collapsed and fed onto rollers 20, their weight, importantly, being supported entirely by rollers 20.

While forms 22 are being concreted, as seen in FIG. 2, rollers 20 remain in place to form a finished portion of tunnel 14 thus supporting forms 22 in the finished section when they are being moved out.

Forms 22 each include a top hinge 24 located directly below rollers 20 and side hinges 26 and 28 enabling assembly of lower segments 30 and 32 of forms 22, engagement occuring along stripping joint 34 when assuming the pouring position of FIG. 2. Of course, stripping ratchet 36 enables extension of upper segments 38 and 40 of forms 22. As seen more clearly in FIGS. 1 and 3, hinge 24 is located in such position that when forms 22 are collapsed, a gap appears through which hanger rods 10 may pass. In some instances it may be necessary to have two hinges, in which case the broad technique will be similar, continuing to permit concrete to be pumped into tunnel forms 22 at centerline. Of course, the concreting operation may simply consist of holes drilled through the earth downward to the center of forms 22. Therefore, it is not necessary to offset hangers 10.

While FIG. 3 illustrates upper segment 40 of forms 22 in collapsed position, FIG. 4 shows upper segments 33 and 49 during concreting position. Note the angular disposition of flange 42 of leg 44 while forms 22 are in collapsed position, as contrasted to the horizontal position of flange 42 during assumption of concreting position. As further seen in FIG. 4, rubber sealing strips and 52 span openings between opposed flanges 42 and are held in place with plate clamps 54 and bolt assemblies 56 Manifestly, variation in design and arrangement of parts may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as defined by the sub-joined claim.

I claim:

1. A system for moving and setting forms in a tunnel, comprising:

(A) hanger arrangement means attached to and suspended from portions of the top of said tunnel;

(B) roller assemblies mounted upon said hanger means; and

(C) collapsible forms assemblies, including:

(i) four segments held in rotating relationship with respect to each other about a first top hinge and second side hinges;

(ii) supporting means extending circumferentially towards each other from said first two segments about said first top hinge, such that a gap is defined in said forms through which said hanger arrangement means may pass and;

(D) a stripping ratchet interconnecting said first two segments, such as to radially expand said segments and close said gap above said rollers during poursuspended from said roller References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Reno 6184 Wolfe 2 5131.6 ORourke 61--84 X Ross 61-43 4 1,722,038 7/1929 Dougherty. 1,734,773 11/1929 Murray. 1,792,084 2/1931 Glasser 25131.6

FOREIGN PATENTS 949,495 2/1949 France.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Examiner. 

